Getting ready for your next steps?
Join a series of workshops taking place next week (10-12 May) if you are getting ready to enter the world of work.
Workshop themes include CVs, interview skills, and job applications.
Find out more and sign up here: http://ow.ly/LiTa50EBIJW
A culture project for young carers is launching after Museums & Galleries Edinburgh, with Edinburgh Young Carers, was selected as a key partner by the British Museum for their Where we are programme.
Where we are… is a new national programme for young people aged 16-24 that co-designs and co-delivers meaningful local arts and cultural projects around the UK.
In Edinburgh staff from Museums and Galleries Edinburgh and Edinburgh Young Carers will work with up to 10 young carers from across the Capital.
Through this project, young carers in the community who may face adversity and challenges as a result of their caring responsibilities, will have the opportunity to have fun and forge networks and bring their experience and skills to the project, developing these further.
Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “Working with Edinburgh Young Carers, our Museums & Galleries Edinburgh service is delighted to have been selected as one of British Museums key partners on the Where we are programme.
“Our Museums service have done a lot of work with young carers and other vulnerable groups and there has never been a better time for this kind of engagement.
“In Edinburgh we are keen to ensure that cultural opportunities are available to everyone that lives here, and we can’t wait to see what the young people produce.”
Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, Culture and Communities Vice Convener, said: “One of our priorities as a local authority is to ensure wellbeing and equalities are enhanced for everyone who lives here.
“This project will contribute to that aim by providing young people with a cultural opportunity that will help them to develop skills, build confidence and provide a positive focus after what has been a very difficult year. We’re very excited to see what they produce.
Ria Sloan, Outreach and Access Manager, said: “Museums and Galleries Edinburgh place people at the heart of what we do; we work to provide opportunities for people to access, explore and contribute to Edinburgh’s cultural life.
“I’m thrilled to be able to give local young people the opportunity to be part of a nationwide project led by the British Museum and I’m really looking forward to learning more about how we can support their interests and needs.”
Lee MacKenzie, 16-25s Development Worker at Young Carers said: “We are thrilled to have been selected to take part in the project.
“This last year has been particularly challenging for our young adult carers in terms of wellbeing, education and employment. By being part of this project, we hope to remove some of the barriers the pandemic has created for our carers as well supporting them to explore some of the incredible culture their city has to offer.
“Having worked together with the Museums and Galleries Edinburgh team on successful projects in the past, it’s great to be able to work in partnership again on something new.”
Further information:
· Young people look set to prioritise shared life experiences post-pandemic
· Royal Bank of Scotland working with award-winning rapper, Nova Scotia the Truth, to encourage more young adults to set a financial plan to help them achieve future goals
As the country takes its first steps towards re-opening next week, research from Royal Bank of Scotland has revealed what 18–34-year-olds in Scotland are looking forward to most once restrictions allow it, indicating young Scots will prioritise shared life experiences over materialistic goals.
The top 12 list in full:
1. Spending time with friends and family (85%)
2. Going on holiday (74%)
3. Date nights (50%)
4. Attending a live gig (48%)
5. Going to/ taking part in a sports match (28%)
6. A return to education (22%)
7. Getting back to the workplace (21%)
8. Buying a house (20%)
9. Graduating (14%)
10. Taking driving lessons (14%)
11. Going travelling (14%)
12. Getting married (10%)
After an extended period in lockdown, social interactions, unsurprisingly, come out top with 85% of young people surveyed wanting to catch up with their loved ones and half of 18-34-year-olds looking forward to date nights (50%).
However, young people also look set to prioritise their longer-term career goals with one in five (22%) looking forward to returning to education and 21% excited to get back to their place of work.
This could correspond with recent data released by the Office for National Statistics (March 23rd 2021) which showed that young people have been disproportionately impacted by job losses in the past year with under-25s making up two-thirds of the 693,000 total redundancies recorded since the start of the pandemic.
Similarly, in line with the surging demand for houses seen over the past year, buying a house ranks 8th on the list with a further one in five (20%) of young people looking forward to taking their first or further steps on the property ladder once the effects of the pandemic allow them to do so.
Closing out the list, milestones such as graduating (15%) and getting married (10%), which have been impacted hugely be postponements throughout 2020, are still exciting prospects for young people, as well as expanding their horizons through taking driving lessons (14%) and travelling the world (14%).
The survey was undertaken by Royal Bank to gather insights into how the pandemic has impacted young people in Scotland, what it has meant for their money and how they are planning for the future. It found that more than a fifth (22%) of 18-34-year-olds surveyed said they feel anxious about money troubles in a post-Covid world compared with less than one in ten (9%) of those aged 55+.
Royal Bank has now committed to improving the nation’s financial capabilities by offering every person a free Financial Health Check, to reduce money anxieties and help them achieve their goals.
To promote the service, the bank is working with Scottish Album of the Year rap artist, Nova Scotia the Truth, who has been encouraging her fans and online followers to consider setting a plan to manage their money post-pandemic.
Malcolm Buchanan, Chair, Scotland Board, Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “Through our conversations with our younger customers, we understand the financial, emotional and psychological impacts of the pandemic have been immense. The resilience shown by so many Scots across all age groups in adapting to such touch conditions has been truly inspiring.
“We recognise that every dream needs a plan, whether that’s buying a first home or saving for a holiday, and we’re committed to supporting customers achieving their own unique financial goals. As economic conditions improve, we aim to play our part in helping to give everyone the skills and expertise they need to build for a brighter future”.
Royal Bank is making financial management easier by providing the following:
· Financial Health Check – A free 20-minute conversation with a senior advisor who provides guidance to make banking simpler, and tips for everyday spending or achieving future goals. This could include setting savings targets, advice on tracking monthly spending and creating budgets. Customers can choose to chat in a branch or over the phone. personal.rbs.co.uk/personal/financial-health-check.html
· Royal Bank of Scotland app – Customers using Royal Bank of Scotland’s award-winning app will now be able to easily see where their money is going with the new ‘spending’ tab which will show them how much they’re spending each month, helping them stay in control of their money.
· MoneySense – MoneySense provides parents and teachers with the tools to give young people the confidence to use money responsibly on their own. MoneySense is fully digital and downloadable, it can be delivered by teachers in schools. It’s the longest-running bank-led financial education programme for young people in the UK.
Over 100 organisations from across Scotland have today written to the leaders of Scotland’s political parties, urging them to commit to a radical extension of free bus travel, in a move that they say would have a transformative impact on the lives of people across Scotland’s communities.
The call has been made as part of the Poverty Alliance’s Everyone Aboard campaign, which asks for their support in extending fre bus travel to under 25s and people on Universal Credit and other low-income benefits.
The coalition of organisations – coordinated by the Poverty Alliance and including Friends of the Earth Scotland, the Scottish Youth Parliament and Barnardo’s Scotland – are making the call at a time of growing poverty in Scotland, with recent Scottish Government statistics showing over 1 million people in Scotland are now living in the grip of poverty.
Bus travel will, the letter states, be critical in stemming the rising tide of pandemic-related youth unemployment, with bus travel particularly important for young people and people on low incomes to help them access the labour market. Without this action, the organisations have warned, they “risk being left behind in our economic and social recovery.”
Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance, said: “We are calling on the leaders of Scotland’s political parties to take the bold, far-reaching action to help loosen the grip of poverty on people’s lives. Removing the barrier to transport would be a significant step towards building a Scotland where everyone is included, no matter their income.
“This move would also help advance gender equality, as women disproportionately rely on public transport to access jobs, healthcare and activities to boost their wellbeing.
“Lone parents, who are predominantly women, would particularly benefit. Expanding the use of public transport will play an important role in reducing Scotland’s emissions and responding to the climate emergency.
“Extending free bus travel is a key way the next Scottish Government can help make Scotland a greener and more just place for us all to live.”
Mollie McGoran MSYP, Trustee of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said: “Young people and people on low incomes have been some of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and so must be put at the heart of the recovery.
“That’s why we support the aims of the Poverty Alliance’s Everyone Aboard campaign to provide free bus travel for young people and people on low incomes in Scotland.
“We believe that Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government should provide funding to support initiatives which make it easier, cheaper, and safer for young people to use active and sustainable travel options.
“Our 2018 national campaign All Aboard found young people feel bus fares are too high. The cost of public transport creates barriers to participation which are denying young people and those on low incomes access to opportunities, and this proposal would be a great step in the right direction.”
Gavin Thomson, Air Pollution Campaigner, Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “Transport is the biggest emitting sector in Scotland. To meet our climate change targets, bold action must be taken to promote cleaner forms of travel, like public transport, and lead a just transition away from fossil fuel private car use.
“Extending free bus travel to all young people under 25 and those on Universal Credit will form an important part of the solution and help ensure no one is left behind as we transform our transport system.
“The upcoming Scottish Parliament election provides political parties an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to tackling climate change. We must seize it.”
The full letter can be read here: Everyone Aboard letter to Scotland’s party leaders
Local businessman, Peter McLean, has been appointed to head up the Young Enterprise Scotland team in Edinburgh and the Lothians and drive forward the charity’s mission to give all local school children access to enterprise learning.
As Chair of the volunteer group, Pete will co-ordinate efforts to introduce more schools and more students to entrepreneurial skills development through the Young Enterprise Scotland (YES) Company Programme.
With his team of business advisers, as well as fundraising and organising events, the role includes working directly with senior school students who set up their own commercial ventures as part of the Company Programme.
Last year, more than 300 students across Scotland achieved an SCQF level six accredited qualification for the Company Programme, which is recognised by UCAS for university entry.
Many sixth formers take the experience of the Company Programme further by setting up their own businesses outside school, while for others, the skills for teamworking, communication and making ideas a reality provide them with a competitive advantage in the jobs market.
In 2019/20, the Edinburgh & Lothians Area Team helped to inspire nearly 300 students and supported 32 YES companies to go through the Company Programme.
Having taken part in the Company Programme himself while at school in Edinburgh, Pete has been involved with YES for over two decades.
A successful serial entrepreneur in his own right, he now acts as a business growth adviser with Napier University, where he helps students, staff and alumni grow and launch businesses.
Pete said: “I have been involved with Young Enterprise for over 20 years, from being part of a team at School, judging, running workshops, a local Board member and now Lothians Chair.
“I am passionate about enterprise for all at every age but especially in education and look forward to helping Young Enterprise achieve its goals.
“I launched my own food and drinks business whilst at University and grew it to 36 staff over 13 years. There were many highlights over the years, but an equal number of failures and lessons learnt.
“It is these valuable lessons that has led to my current role as Business Growth Adviser at Edinburgh Napier University. I have a passion for the start-up community and hope that in my new role with YES I can steer others down this path and achieve their goals.”
The Rural Youth Project, in partnership with Smart Village Scotland continues to develop the pioneering world-first youth centric Smart Village and are seeking five enthusiastic young people to join their team of Digital Champions.
The voluntary role, which will be active from May to August 2021, will see the five new digital champions join a core team of ten young people who are driving the development of the platform. The new digital champions will receive personal and professional support as well as a contribution of £530 during the placement.
Rural Youth Project Co-Founder and Director, Rebecca Dawes, said the recruitment of five additional digital champions would not be possible without the continued support of the LEADER Programme 2014-2020: The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas and the Local Action Groups from across Scotland.
“This is a platform made for and by young people. Our current group of Digital Champions are working hard to find, curate and create content that will appeal to young people in rural areas and we are looking forward to expanding this passionate group.
“If you’re passionate and interested about the future of rural communities, and aged between 18 to 28, I would strongly encourage you to apply. Not only will you have the opportunity to meet like minded people, but the skills gained will be held in high regard with future employers.”
Smart Villages, a concept driven by the European Network for Rural Development, are rural digital ‘villages’ that combine physical and digital communities to improve their resilience, building on local strengths and opportunities.
Smart Village Scotland have partnered with the Rural Youth Project, to create the Rural Youth Project Smart Village which will be a super connected community that will function as a space for young people to connect, to build or expand their enterprise and leadership skills and to trade.
Grant Murdoch from Smart Village Scotland, who has been managing and mentoring the Digital Champions, said: “We are at a very exciting stage with the Smart Village platform and this is a great opportunity for five new Digital Champions to join our diverse team from all over Scotland.
“Their knowledge, experience and enthusiasm will help to bring fresh perspectives and ideas to continue to develop and sustain the platform for young people.
“Digital Champions are required to attend an open and informal meeting each fortnight and, working in teams, will get the opportunity to work with a web developer in creating, designing and shaping content of the new digital platform.”
Applications opened on Tuesday (13th April) and close on Friday 23rd April, with the roles to commence early May.
Further details about the role and how to apply can be found here:
https://rypsv.com/news/opportunity-for-5-new-digital-champions-to-join-our-team
Since its launch in 2006, the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards have been Scotland’s only national awards evening for the young people of Scotland. They have celebrated the inspirational contributions and achievements of thousands of young Scots who have made a real difference to communities across Scotland.
Fatima, who attends Morgan Academy, is a member of the Young Women’s Advisory Group, who are developing the Young Women Know: Dundee campaign. It launched last year, and is a joint project between NSPCC Scotland, YWCA Scotland – the Young Women’s Movement, and Dundee City Council.
The group are creating tailored resources to address peer sexual abuse and help ensure that every young woman and girl in Dundee knows what a healthy relationship looks like and where to go if they need advice or support.
Fatima, finalist in the Young Scot Awards volunteering category, said: “When I found out I was a finalist in the awards I was a bit shocked, but in a good way. I knew I had been nominated, but I wasn’t expecting to make it to the final.
“The Young Women Know campaign is so important because it will teach young people about healthy relationships, what they look like and how to spot red flags. It’s important for girls to know they can speak up and access support if they are in a toxic relationship. We’re still working on the materials and toolkit, but hopefully they will be ready to go out early this summer.
“I enjoy volunteering and there’s been lots of opportunities through school. I’m part of a mental health group and we do work in our school around young people’s mental and emotional health.
“I’m a chairperson on our school’s charity fundraising group, Interact, and we raise funds for various projects such as the shoebox appeal where we sent around 40 boxes to young people in countries in Eastern Europe filled with presents, clothing and sanitary products. And at Christmas we raised money towards a defibrillator to be fitted outside our school.
“I think it’s so important that young people’s voices are heard. At the end of the day, we’re the next generation and we should all have a say on our future and the world we want to create.”
Rachel has been involved since the early stages of an anti-bullying campaign, Think b4 You Type, alongside NSPCC Scotland, RespectMe and Angus Council.
The toolkit was initially launched just in Angus, but now the materials have been made available to secondary schools across Scotland.
Rachel, finalist in the enhancing education category, said: “I was really happy when I found out I was a finalist in the Young Scot Awards, and it’s great to think I could be receiving an award for the work I’ve been doing over the last while.”
Rachel also recently became a member of the NSPCC’s Young People’s Board for Change, which was launched last month to give young people the chance to shape and influence the work of the children’s charity.
Rachel added: “I’m really passionate about the anti-bullying campaign, and I’d love to see a drop in cyber bullying around the country. It’s hard enough being bullied in person in school, but there’s also the problem of being bullied online, and it can feel like there’s no escape sometimes
“I feel like young people have a lot to say, and if people listen to us then a lot of things could be changed for the better.”
Carla Malseed, local campaigns manager for NSPCC Scotland, said: “Both Fatima and Rachel are amazing young women who are certainly going places and deserve their nominations in the Young Scot Awards.
“Working with them both is a delight, and their commitment to their respective causes really shines through when they passionately speak about what is important to them.
“It is crucial that children and young people are at the heart of what we do here at NSPCC Scotland. The last year has been so hard on all of us, and the younger generation should not be defined by the pandemic. There is so much that can be learned from their experiences and our new Young People’s Board for Change, which Rachel is on, will provide us with great opportunities for us to learn and have young people shape our work.”
The Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards will take place on 22 April.
A £19.4 million Scottish Government fund will support a six year mentoring programme to help young people reach their full potential.
MCR Pathways charity will roll out its successful Young Scottish Talent mentoring programme and social enterprise and charity Columba 1400 will expand its values-based Leadership Academy for Young People, working in partnership to improve education outcomes, career opportunities and life chances.
A network of volunteer mentors – drawn from business, civic society and the wider public – will offer tailored support to young people through schools as lockdown eases. They will be trained to develop strong relationships that are at the heart of the programme and key to helping young people achieve their full potential.
The programme will be delivered in partnership with local authorities that wish to participate and will be part of the Scottish Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee, to provide long term support where it is needed most.
Education Secretary John Swinney said: “Our young people have endured an extremely challenging 12 months coping with the disruption to school life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For some young people, this period has impacted them disproportionality, which is why we have introduced the young person’s guarantee.
“Improving the education and life chances of all our children and young people is the defining mission of this government, which is why we are funding this mentoring support package that will enable young people to reach their full potential.”
Marie Clare Tully, Chief Executive of Columba 1400, said: ‘We are delighted that the Scottish Government is enabling Columba 1400 to deepen the reach and impact of our Leadership Academies.
“We can now welcome more of Scotland’s impressive young people on a shared journey to explore their own values, and values-based leadership.
“The core values of Scotland’s young people will be crucial in ensuring that our communities thrive post COVID-19. Columba 1400 is honoured to play a part in creating the conditions for change – enabling Scotland’s young people to transform their schools, their communities and the future of Scotland.”
Graeme McEwan, Chief Executive of MCR Pathways, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the Scottish Government is supporting the expansion of the Young Scottish Talent mentoring programme to thousands more inspiring young people across the country. This recognises the transformational impact of mentoring and the key role it will play in post-Covid recovery in our schools and local communities.
“We look forward to partnering with our local authorities and schools to work with volunteer mentors across the country to help our young people find, grow and use their talents and be all they can be.”
The ambition of the Young Person’s Guarantee is that, within two years, every person aged between 16 and 24 will have the opportunity to study; take up an apprenticeship, job or work experience; or participate in formal volunteering.
MCR Pathways is currently operating in 72 schools across 12 local authorities. Young Edinburgh Talent has been running in Craigroyston Community High School since 2019 and in 2020 the programme was extended to 9 schools across the capital.
This proposal would see it increase to potentially 300 schools over a 6 year period.
More than 120,000 jobs for 16- to 24-year-olds have now been created through the government’s flagship Kickstart Scheme, with the UK Government making it even simpler for employers to join.
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to create new job placements for 16- to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment.
Employers of all sizes can apply for funding which covers 100% of the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours per week for a total of 6 months.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “Young people are among the hardest hit in times like these, which is why we’re doing everything we can to ensure they’re not left without hope and opportunity”.
The City of Edinburgh Council has confirmed plans to take on employees using the Kickstart scheme. The council has identified placements within some of their services and are currently working across the Senior Management team to identify other opportunities which meet the conditions of the programme.
Lothian MSP Miles Briggs said: “It is very welcome news that Edinburgh City Council is getting on board with the Kickstart scheme. The scheme moving up a gear is pivotal to Scotland and the United Kingdom’s economic recovery from covid-19, providing many jobs for 16–24-year-olds.
“The scheme has removed the requirement that employers create a minimum of 30 vacancies to apply directly. This means that small businesses will be able to benefit from this and create greater opportunities for our young people.
“It is vital that we see a focus on job creation and this is yet another example of the UK government’s determination to put economic recovery at the forefront of recovery plans.
“Above all these policies are critical if our young people are to have a bright future. This is positive news and means that young Scots hit the hardest by the pandemic are given opportunities to start on a positive career path”.
Our 2021 Survey is now live!
The Local Conversation in Muirhouse 2021: Priorities and action for the Local Conversation Project
The Local Conversation in Muirhouse is a group of local residents that have come together to make Muirhouse the best place it can be.
Our neighbourhood vision is:
Muirhouse is a beautiful place, where no one gets left behind and a healthy community thrives:
– Muirhouse is a place to belong where people know the history and feel part of their community.
– Muirhouse is a place where no one gets left behind and our elders are included and respected.
– Muirhouse is a beautiful place that we are proud to live in and take care of.
– Muirhouse is a place with opportunities and activities for our young people.
As with most people and organisations, this lockdown period has provided an opportunity to reflect on our work and really think about how to move forward.
Please answer the survey questions to help us get a better understanding of your priorities and how you or someone you know might like to be involved.
This project belongs to the people of Muirhouse and we have a really great opportunity to work together to create the change you want to see.
Please click the link to help us get a better understanding of your priorities for Muirhouse and how you or someone you know might like to be involved!
